Neck And Back Pain

Besides causing a lot of pain and suffering, the human back has been the subject of countless fascinating studies. And for some strange reason, men seem to suffer from this affliction more than women.

One possible theory for this enigma could be explained by the fact that men tend to either be extremely physically active or extremely lazy. Yes, sitting too much can also cause neck and back pain.

becoming a WORK potato

Many people think that sitting is easier on their backs than standing or lifting. Not true. People whose jobs require them to sit for long periods of time suffer as much from back pain as people who lift all day long.

Many world class researchers believe that the huge increase in back pain over the past couple of decades has a lot to do with the fact that more and more of us are spending our work days in chairs.

some possible solutions

Many people have the notion that if their back pain becomes very severe, they can always resort to surgery. Nothing could be further from the truth. The amount of pain someone suffers from has very little to do with whether or not he or she could benefit from surgery.

One British researcher has estimated that for every 10,000 people who experience a bout of back pain, only four need surgery. And yet, one of the most frequently asked questions that back pain sufferers ask is: "Who's the best specialist in town?" Waste of time. Waste of energy. Waste of money!

Physicians today recommend physical activity and the use of posture support vests such as the DeWall Vest to promote exercise while supporting back muscles.

what about bed rest?

Not many years ago, back pain patients were routinely put to bed, sometimes for weeks or months. This therapy is no longer necessary. Two or three days of bed rest is now the norm. After that, people are advised to return to their normal activities, gradually if necessary.

The reason for this 180 shift is interesting. Physically speaking, if you stay in bed, your muscle strength can decline by as much as three percent per day. At that rate, you will end up with no more energy or stamina left to carry out normal daily routines.

can depression cause it?

A lot of attention has recently been paid to possible links between depression and chronic back pain. It is not uncommon, for instance, for antidepressant medication to be prescribed to patients who suffer from back pain. But there are some interesting questions for which we have no answers.

For example, when depressed patients take antidepressants, it takes about three weeks for their blood levels to get high enough for their depressed state to be affected. When back pain sufferers take the same medication, their pain levels often decrease in about a week.

There are several theories as to why, and research is still being carried out.

are MRIs necessary?

Many chronic back pain sufferers choose to have an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) performed. This is partly because, in the US, MRIs have become common tools in the diagnosis of back pain.

But the fact remains that MRIs simply aren't necessary for the diagnosis of the vast majority of back pain. What is necessary — and the area where many people are getting short changed — is a good clinical exam performed by an interested and experienced physician who isn't taking you for a ride.

5 categories of back pain

The essential first step towards rectifying the problem is to pin down the problem. If you are a fellow sufferer, you will probably be shocked to learn that more than half of the millions of people who suffer from back pain never find out exactly what's wrong.

As soon as the problem is identified, therapy and treatment is always available — there is hope. There are five main causes of pain and their cures: